5 things you didn't know about 'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesKit Harington was born on December 26, 1986.

Kit Harington became an A-list star after landing a starring role on HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which premiered in 2011. Since then, he’s been nominated for an Emmy and several SAG Awards.

When he’s not playing Jon Snow, Harington has lent his voice to a character in “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” starred as a gladiator in the 2014 movie “Pompeii,” and appeared in the miniseries “Gunpowder.”

He didn’t know that his name wasn’t actually Kit until he was 11.

Harington didn’t realise that his name is Christopher until he went to school and had to fill out exam papers.

“I put down ‘Kit Harington,’ and they [the teachers] looked at me like I was completely stupid, and they said, ‘No, you’re Christopher Harington, I’m afraid,'” Harington told Interview magazine. “It was only then I learned my actual name. That was kind of a bizarre existential crisis for an 11-year-old to have, but in the end, I always stuck with Kit, because I felt that’s who I was. I’m not really a ‘Chris.'”

His favourite book is 1984.

Mike Marsland/Wireimage via Getty ImagesKit Harington’s first film role was in the 2012 horror ‘Silent Hill: Revelation.’

If Harington wasn’t acting, he thinks he’d probably be involved in journalism or photography.

Harington told Esquire UK that he’d gravitate toward “something in the creative industries,” but also “liked the idea” of being a war correspondent.

He’s a nervous flyer and has a few pre-flight rituals.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesKit Harington married his ‘Game of Thrones’ co-star, Rose Leslie, in June 2018.

The actor told Condé Nast Traveller that he used to enjoy being in planes, but his fear has “gotten worse” since travelling more for “Game of Thrones.”

“I used to love it, but now I imagine being 30,000 feet in the air,” he said. “Each time I fly it feels more unnatural. I get more jittery.”

To cope with his nervous tendencies, Harington carries a lucky pen that he’s owned since he was a child and has a specific routine.

“Every time I get on a plane I have to touch the outside of the plane three times before I get in.”

Prior to landing a role on “Game of Thrones,” Harington hated George R. R. Martin.

Craig Barritt/WireImage via Getty Images‘Game of Thrones’ is based on books written by George R. R. Martin.

He used to work at Waterstones bookshop in England and recalled frequently having to carry the author’s popular novels around.

“I used to have to lug down the books and George’s always sold like hotcakes, so I was constantly having to re-stack them and they were just so heavy because they’re so huge,” he told Zap2it.

“I remember cursing him,” Harington continued. “I’ve told him this many times. I couldn’t stand that I was constantly having to carry down and replace all these f—ing books. I’d fill up the shelves and they’d sell out in a day.”